Alcohol and the Emergency Department

This book presents the findings from a series of linked studies examining the process and outcomes of a pragmatic RCT of brief intervention for alcohol misuse among people presenting to an Emergency Department (ED). These studies focus on screening, uptake of brief intervention and its impact on re-attendance to the Department. The Paddington Alcohol Test provides an acceptable and valid method for screening for hazardous drinking among people attending an ED. Provision of health consequences feedback increases the proportion of hazardous drinkers willing to accept advice. In addition to reducing levels of alcohol consumption, brief intervention decreased the likelihood of re-attendance to the ED. Brief alcohol intervention delivered in an ED reduces levels of alcohol consumption for hazardous and heavy drinkers and reduces re-attendance at the department. Older drinkers and those who stated that their attendance at the ED was related to their use of alcohol were more likely to attend an appointment with an Alcohol Health Worker; however attendance did not significantly reduce levels of consumption.